Lacrosse shirt and protective pad assembly

ABSTRACT

A garment comprising an undershirt having at least one first pad disposed proximate a wearer&#39;s sternum, and at least one second pad dimensioned wider than the wearer&#39;s sternum and secured to the undershirt at the at least one first pad, wherein the at least one second pad is removably secured to the undershirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to athletic pads used to prevent injuryduring lacrosse or other contact sports. More particularly, theinvention relates to an athletic pad assembly that allows removal of anouter pad. Specifically, the invention relates to a separate shoulderpad and sternum protector assemblies which are connected to anundershirt that may have a plurality of additional pads.

2. Background Information

Athletic pads are well known and used in a variety of sports includinglacrosse and football. Shoulder pads typically used in football andlacrosse have a neck opening located between two hard shoulder portionswhich connect at both the front and back below the player's neck. Theshoulder pad may be a two piece unit split along the centerline of boththe front and back. The back is connected with riveted plates, while thefront may be connected with a draw string or plates. The shoulder padassembly is a ridged unit which redistricts movement of the player.While the player is protected from potential injury, mobility is limitedand it is cumbersome to clean and maintain the pads due to their size.

An alternative to the hard style pads are soft pads. Soft pads may beplaced within an athletic garment or on the outside of the athleticgarment. To locate the pads within the garment, the pad is stitchedwithin a pocket in the garment and is permanently fixed. In analternative arrangement, soft pads are stitched to the outside of thegarment instead of located within a pocket. The soft pads provide muchgreater mobility for the player since he is not restrained by a ridgedone-piece should pad. Nevertheless, the soft pads suffer from a lack ofprotection. The soft pads cannot withstand the force of harder hits andthe player may be injured more readily when wearing soft pads instead ofridged shoulder pads.

One attempt to overcome the problems of the hard shoulder pads and thesoft shoulder pads is the Rhinoskin by Brine. The Rhinoskin shoulderpads have a soft pad system covering the entire rib section of a playerand extending upwards around the neck to cover the player's shoulders.Further, the soft pads continue down the shoulder blades of the playerabout half way down his back. On the front side, a loop is stitched nearthe collar bone area of each side and includes hook or loop on theoutside. Similarly, on the back side, a loop is stitched near theshoulder blade of each side and includes hook or loop on the outside. Ahard pad, can then be located between the front and back loops on eitheror both sides. The hard pad includes a length of material with eitherhook or loop that passes through one of the loops and is wrapped aroundthe loop and secured to the top of the loop.

While the Rhinoskin prior art is adequate for the purpose for which itwas intended, there remains needs that must be satisfied in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a garment including anundershirt having at least one first pad disposed proximate a wearer'ssternum, and at least one second pad dimensioned wider than the wearer'ssternum and secured to the undershirt at the at least one first pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best modein which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of theinvention, is set forth in the following description and are shown inthe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a player wearing a preferred embodimentgarment with a plurality of first and second pads;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a player wearing a preferred embodimentgarment with a plurality of second pads located on the player's leftside and a plurality of second pads removed from the player's right sideand sternum;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a player wearing a preferred embodiment garmentwith a plurality of second pads located on the player's left side and aplurality of second pads removed from the player's right side;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a preferred embodiment second pads beinginstalled within mounting loops as indicated by arrows on a playersright side;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of preferred embodiment second pads installedwithin mounting loops on a player's right side;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the encircled region of FIG. 5illustrating a preferred embodiment interaction of the fingers and themounting loops;

FIG. 7 is a section view of the fingers and mounting loops takengenerally along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment secondpad and elbow pad removed from a player; and,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another preferred embodimentsecond pad removed from a player and another preferred embodiment elbowpad secured to the mounting loop.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,structural elements of the invention. While the present invention isdescribed with respect to what is presently considered to be thepreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention asclaimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesor materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be usedin the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods,devices, and materials are now described.

The garment of the present invention is indicated generally at 10, as isshown in FIGS. 1 through 9. As particularly shown in FIG. 1, a preferredembodiment garment 10 includes an undershirt 12, a plurality of firstpads 14A-14W, and a plurality of second pads 16A-16E. Garment 10 mayalso include elbow pads 18A and 18B secured to either undershirt 12 orone of the second pads (described below). First pads 14A-14W are softpads disposed within undershirt 12 in a preferred embodiment, whilesecond pads 16A-16E are hard pads. Although the preferred embodimentillustrates the first pads as soft pads and the second pads as hardpads, one of ordinary skill in the art will immediately realize that thefirst pads may be hard pads and the second pads may be soft pads, or anycombination thereof is within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as claimed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, undershirt 12 is illustrated with secondpads 16A, 16B, and 16C removed and second pads 16D and 16E attached.Further, right elbow pad 18A is detached, while left elbow pad 18B isillustrated being worn by a player 22. The right shoulder pad areaincludes 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 14E, and 14V, while the left shoulder padarea includes 14K, 14M, 14N, 14P, 14Q, and 14R. The sternum pad areaincludes 14F, 14G, 14H, 14L, and 14J.

In accordance with a main feature of the invention, undershirt 12includes mounting loops 20 at various positions throughout the front andback sides to secure second pads 16A-16E. Mounting loops 20 arepreferably a folded piece of straight material sewn to undershirt 12. Ina preferred embodiment, each mounting loop 20 is secured to theundershirt within a perimeter of first pads 14. Due to the increasedsize of second pad 16C, two mounting loops 20 may be secured within theperimeter of a single pad, such as first pad 14F or 14J.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the second right shoulder pad includes pads 16Aand 16B which are secured to undershirt 12 at mounting loops 20 locatedat first pads 14A, 14E, and 14V. Second shoulder pads 16A and 16B arepreferably held together with a connector 19 so that the two second padsfunction as a single unit. The second left shoulder pad includes pads16D and 16E, which are secured to undershirt 12 at mounting loops 20located at first pads 14M, 14Q, and 14R. Similarly, second pads 16D and16E are held together with a connector 21 so that the two second padsfunction as a single unit. Finally, the sternum pad includes pad 16C andis secured to undershirt 12 at mounting loops 20 located at first pads14F and 14J.

Referring to FIGS. 6-7, in accordance with another main feature of thepresent invention, second pads 16 include fingers 24 formed integral tosecond pads 16. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, fingers 24 are formed withina perimeter of second pads 16. Specifically, fingers 24 define at leasta portion of the outermost periphery of second pads 16. Second pads 16Aand 16B are installed by inserting a distal end 26 of finger 24 withinmounting loop 20 in the direction indicated by arrow 28. Since thefingers are secured within mounting loops 20 in different directions,the chances of second pads 16 inadvertently becoming disconnected arereduced.

FIGS. 6 and 7 further illustrate finger 24 engaged with mounting loop20. A hook 30 extends from distal end 26 inward and helps to preventfinger 24 from becoming inadvertently disconnected from mounting loop20. At the same time however, fingers 24 can be also be removed frommounting loop 20 to facilitate cleaning of undershirt 12 or second pads16A-16E. Further, an opening 29 is defined by the second pad and distalend 26 of finger 24. The opening extends proximate hook 30 and finger 24to define a channel 31. Advantageously, channel 31 allows simpleengagement of the finger and mounting loop as well as allowing a wearerto adjust what pads careworn.

In accordance with yet another main feature of the present invention,second pads 16 include an elbow finger 32 at a terminal end 34 in apreferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Elbow pads 18A and18B each have an elbow mounting loop 36 at an elbow terminal end 38.Elbow pad 18A and 18B are located on a player's elbow with elbowmounting loop 36 proximate terminal end 34 of second pads 16A. In thisposition, elbow finger 32 is engaged with elbow mounting loop 36 toinsure that the elbow pad is properly positioned during use.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, another preferred embodiment of elbow pads18A and 18B are illustrated. This embodiment functions similar to thepreviously described embodiment in that it locates and insures that thatthe elbow pad is properly positioned during use. The second preferredembodiment will be described with reference to the right side shoulderpad and elbow pad; however the description is equally applicable to theleft side. Second pad 16A does not include an elbow finger; insteadterminal end 34 is smooth. Undershirt 12 includes a shirt mounting loop40 sewn to a sleeve 42. Elbow pad 16A includes a finger 44 with a hook46 both formed in terminal end 38. Finger 44 is formed similar to andfunctions similar to fingers 24 of second pads 16. Elbow pad 16A isconnected to undershirt 12 by engaging finger 44 with shirt mountingloop 40.

In accordance with still another main feature of the present invention,second pad 16C is preferably bow shaped in a direction away from aplayer's sternum when in use. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, second pad 16Cincludes a center portion 48, an angled portion 50 extending from eachside of the center portion and directed backwards, and a mounting flange52 extending from each of the angled portions. Center portion 48 andmounting flanges 52 are preferably parallel to each other, while angledportion 50 provides the bow-like shape. Second pad 16C, and centerportion 48, are each wider than the player's sternum so that contact inthe sternum area is deflected through second pad 16C whereby the secondpad is deflected inward.

Second pad 16C also includes a plurality of fingers 24 formed in theperimeter of mounting flanges 52. Preferably, two fingers 24 are formedin each mounting flange to insure the second pad is secured in placeduring play. However, it should be immediately apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that only one finger 24 is necessary at eachmounting flange 52 in order to maintain the second pad proximate theplayer's sternum. Further, fingers 24 are also preferably arranged withdistal ends 26 facing in generally opposite directions and include hooks30 to prevent accidental removal of second pad 16C.

Second pad 16C connects to undershirt 12 at mounting loops 20 at firstpads 14F and 14J. In a preferred embodiment, two mounting loops 20 arelocated within the perimeter of first pad 14F and first pad 14J.Further, the two loops within each first pad are arranged generallyperpendicular to each other to resist inadvertent removal of second pad16C. In operation, impact at second pad 16C is deflected through thefirst pads 14F and 14J to reduce the potential for injury to the player.

Having described the structure of a preferred embodiment, a preferredmethod of operation will be described in detail and should be read inlight of FIGS. 1 though 9.

Initially, a wear puts undershirt 12 on and may proceed with only firstpads 14A-14W. Next, the wear locates second pads 16A and 16B on one sideand second pads 16D and 16E on the other side. In order to locate thesecond pads, fingers 24 are inserted through corresponding mountingloops 20 on undershirt 12. The same method may be used to locate secondpad 16C proximate the wearer's sternum by inserting fingers 24 of secondpad 16C within mounting loops 20 on undershirt 12. Next, elbow pads 18Aand 18B may be connected by inserting elbow finger 32 within elbowmounting loop 36. While the method of operation has been described as aseries of steps, the wearer may decide to wear any number of pads in anycombination or wear only the first pads.

During play, second pads 16A-16E absorb impact and transfer the impactforce to first pads 14A-14W which are proximate the impact area. Theforce on the first pads is spread across all of the interconnected padsproximate the impact area and thereby reduces the force. Since the forceis reduced because it is spread across a broader area, the first padsalso function to absorb the impact.

It will be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changescan be made that are within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For instance, the first pads may be a single unit disposedwithin the undershirt, or may be completely omitted so long as themounting loops remain to secure the second pads.

Accordingly, the garment is an effective, safe, inexpensive, andefficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of theinvention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with priorart devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains newresults in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the garment is constructed and used, thecharacteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and usefulresults obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements,arrangement, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appendedclaims.

1. A garment comprising: an undershirt having at least one first paddisposed proximate a wearer's sternum; and, at least one second paddimensioned wider than the wearer's sternum and secured to theundershirt at the at least one first pad.
 2. The garment of claim 1wherein the at least one second pad is removably secured to theundershirt.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one secondpad is generally bow shaped in a direction away from a wearer's sternum;4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the at least one second pad furthercomprises a mounting flange on each opposing end.
 5. The garment ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one second pad is at least partially spacedapart from the undershirt.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the atleast one second pad deflects inwards upon impact.
 7. The garment ofclaim 6 wherein the impact is distributed from the at least one secondpad to the at least one first pad in an area distal the wearer'ssternum.
 8. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one first pad istwo or more pads.
 9. The garment of claim 1 further comprising at leasttwo mounting loops extending from the undershirt; the at least onesecond pad having at least two fingers each having a hook proximate afree end, wherein the at least two fingers are engaged with the at leasttwo mounting loops.
 10. The garment of claim 9 wherein the hook resistsdisconnection of the finger and the mounting loop.
 11. The garment ofclaim 9 wherein the at least two mounting loops are arrangedapproximately ninety degrees from each other and the at least twofingers are arranged approximately ninety degrees from each other. 12.The garment at claim 9 wherein the fingers are contained within the atleast one second pad perimeter.
 13. The garment of claim 9 wherein eachof the at least two fingers are secured within each of the at least twomounting loops in generally opposing directions.
 14. The garment ofclaim 9 wherein each of the at least two fingers are disposed onopposing ends of the at least one second pad.
 15. The garment of claim 9wherein the at least two mounting loops are disposed within a perimeterof the at least one first pad.
 16. The garment of claim 9 wherein the atleast one first pad is two or more pads and the at least two mountingloops are each disposed within a perimeter of two or more of the firstpads.
 17. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one first pad is asoft pad and the at least one second pad is a hard pad.
 18. The garmentof claim 1 wherein the at least one first pad is a hard pad and the atleast one second pad is a soft pad.
 19. The garment of claim 1 whereinthe at least one first pad and the at least one second pad are softpads.
 20. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one first pad andthe at least one second pad are hard pads.